Breast-strap slide



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

H. D. STODDARD. BREAST STRAP SLIDE.

Patented June 14, 1892.

Unrrnn- 'r-a'rns jv PATENT Fluent IIIRAM D. STODDARD, OF llSINGIIAMTON, NEW YORK.

BREAST-I-STRAP SLIDE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 477,079, dated June 14, 1892.

Application filed July 8, 1891.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HIRAM D. STODDARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Binghamton, in the countyof Broome andState of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Harness Breast-Straps and Attachments; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled'in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention has relation generally to harness, and more particularly to the breast-strap slides; and it consists in certain peculiarities in the construction thereof, substantially as hereinafter described,and particularly pointed out in the subjoined claim.

In the accompanying drawings,Figure 1 is a perspective view of the breast-strap and attachment. Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the attachment and part of the breaststrap, showing the construction of the former and the arrangement of the latter therein; and Fig. 3 is a similar View of a modified form of attaching the strap.

The same letters of reference designate the same parts wherever they occur. I

A designates the body of the combined breast-strap slide, buckle, and wear-iron, on which rests the neck-yoke or chain-ring of the harness, and which in shape is similar to all or nearly all breast-strap slides heretofore constructed, being concaved and formed with the downwardlyprojecting side pieces a and the end loops at, which serve to keep the strap from lateral displacement when the latter is secured therein. The body of this attachment A is formed or provided at its lowermost portion, centrally between the loops a, with a downwardly-projecting rigid pin or tongue B. The lower end of this tongue or pin B is threaded, and engaging with said threaded portion of the tongue is an interiorly screw-threaded burr or nut 0, between which and the strap E is interposed a washer D, which keeps said burr from marring the strap. In Fig. 2 I have shown the burr formed with two openings 0 for convenience in apserial No. 398.837. (No model.)

plying and removing it; butitis obvious that any form of burr or nut may be used.

In Figs. 1 and 2 I have shown the strap E made of a continuous piece of leather, having near its ends and at a place about midway its length perforations c for the passage of the tongue or piu' B, whereby the strap engages the attachment at three places. Said strap,near one of its ends 6 engaging said tongue, passes through the body of the attachment for a suitable distance, is then bent upon itself and passes through andbeyond said attachment, engaging the tongue in its passage therethrough, and at its other end is again bent upon itself and extends toward and into the attachment and engages at the end c the tongue, said end 6" being located between the end 6 and the main part 6"" of the strap. Looped into the ends of the strap, which are the ends thereof when the strap is secured to the attachment and ready for use, are the rings E, extending from the snaphooks F, which engage the collar, and contiguous to said snap-hooks and rings are the loops G, which encircle the strap and keep the snap-hooks from riding on the same. Each of these loops G is preferably formed with an interior lug g, integral therewith, and which in length is equal to the thickness of one strap, into which said lug engages, where by said lug is retained in its position con tiguous to the ring of the snap-h0ok. In order to adjust the strap lengthwise, I may pro vide the same with a series of perforations e, instead of but one, at each end and at its center.

In Fig. 3 I have shown a modified form of fastening and applying the straps to the weaniron, which consists, essentially, in perforating the ends of two straps and laying said straps alternately and from opposite sides on each other and over the lug, said lug thereby engaging the straps at four places, and then securing them by the nut or burr O, as shown.

It will be observed that there is no stitch ing of the strap, and also by the construction of attachment and the strap therein the strain comes equally on two ends and also a part of the main part or body portion of the strap, thereby lessening the tendency of the strap to stretch and elongate the perforations therein, (to which objection is subjected all the breaststraps heretofore constructed,) which obviously lessens the usefulness of the strap and renders it liable to disengagement from the attachment. It will also be observed that should one end of the strap become thin from constant use and wear it can be reversed and the other side can be used, making comparatively a new strap, which, so far as I am aware, cannot be done with any of those heretofore constructed. It will be observed still further that with my improved attachment and the manner in which the strap is secured thereto it is impossible for the strap and attachment to become separated, as the former is held against displacement laterally by the side pieces a and sides of the loops 6 longitudinally by the manner of securing it to the attachment and vertically by the burr or nut (1. Another advantage is obtained in the manufacture of the straps to be applied to the attachment, which consists in being able to obtain from one cut one and one-half sets of straps, such as shown in Fig. 3; or when making straps for the construction illustrated in Fig. 1 acontinuous strap is cut, and the remaining portion which would otherwise be wasted forms one strap, which can be attached as shown in Fig. 3. Thus a great saving of material is accomplished, which is in itself a desideratum.

I am aware that it is not broadly new to construct a breast-strap slide with loops at its ends and a tongue for engaging the strap, and such construction I therefore do not claim as my invention; but

What I do believe to be new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, and what I there fore claim, is-

HIRAM D. STODDARD. Witnesses:

AMBRO. E. GRAY, JAMES H. BARTHOLOMEW. 

